Is the theory of qi energy and energy meridians science or fiction? Some of you have emailed me with excitement proclaiming that you can feel the qi energy in your palms after practicing Tai Chi Qigong Shibashi. Actually, qi energy can be felt, not only in the palms of your hands, but in every part of your body. Furthermore, I have some students who can even see the qi coming out from their finger tips with their naked eyes.
Is this phenomena real or a product of one’s imagination? When you dissect a human being, you are not able to see any qi energy or energy meridians (the channels of qi). But let me ask you a question. Are you able to see or feel radio waves, microwaves or magnetic fields? We cannot see or feel them but we know they exist through scientific experiments. In the past 30 years, numerous experiments have proven the existence and uncovered the properties of qi.
Properties of Qi Energy
One of the very first scientific experiments that investigated the properties of qi energy was conducted in 1977 in Shanghai, China. An instrument was placed 1 meter away from Professor Lin Hou-Sheng in an attempt to measure the amount of infrared radiation emitted from his qi. In just a few minutes, the equipment was able to detect some infrared radiation coming out from Professor Lin’s palms. The intensity of the radiation gradually increased as he continued to release his qi. That experiment revealed the first property of qi energy – a low frequency infrared wave.
In the past few years, a lot of research has been performed to measure qi in terms of infrasonic waves. Infrasonic waves are sound waves that have a frequency below 20 Hertz (Hz). The vibrations of these waves are too slow to be heard by the human ear. Every living person emits these waves from the palms of their hands. The average person emits waves ranging from 8 to 12.5 Hz at an intensity of 40 to 50 decibels (dB)
The intensity of infrasonic waves emitted from the palms of qi gong practitioners and non-qi gong practitioners was compared in one research study. 29 Americans, with no prior qigong training, were chosen for the study. The average intensity of the group was 47dB. Qi gong techniques were then taught and prescribed to the group. After one week of learning and practicing, the average intensity of the group rose to 54dB. This is an increase of 7 decibels.
This may not seem like a lot but remember the difference in decibels between the two is defined to be 10 log (P2/P1) dB where the log is to base 10. In other words, the energy emitted by group members was five times that of their energy emission before their initial training. The Qigong master who was teaching this group had generated waves of 78db, which was 1000 times greater than the average person.
Qi energy emission involves more than just infrasonic waves and infrared radiation. Other scientific experiments have revealed the magnetic and penetrating powers of qi. In fact, qi is so powerful that it can penetrate through concrete walls. As technology advances, I am sure we will be able to discover more properties of qi.
Meridians: Channels of Qi energy
What about the energy meridians, the channels of qi energy, are they real? In 1972, Professor Zhu Zong-Xiang led the acupuncture meridian research team of the Institute of Biophysics under the Chinese Academy of Science to prove the existence of the meridians. In the 1980s, the researchers successfully showed the 14 energy meridians in human body through two biophysical experiments, which are surprisingly identical to that recorded in the ancient classical meridian graph.
The first experiment uses a small pointy mallet to knock on the body and the sound it generated is measured through a device similar to the stethoscope. When the mallet knocks on any points along the meridians, the sound it generated is louder and has a higher tone than when it knocks on any other points of the body. It sounds like it is hitting a hollow tube whenever it knocks on the meridians. More than tens of thousands of individuals had participated in this experiment and all have the same result.
The second experiment proved that our energy meridians have lower electrical resistance than any other parts of our body. Again, more than tens of thousands had participated in this experiment and all have the same result.
Below is a short video clip of the two experiments mentioned above:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3gBgKJSjqQ
Stimulating certain acupoints along the energy meridians has a lot of health benefits. On the sample instruction manual of the home study course, I have share a simple acupressure technique that you can do at anytime and anywhere which can prevent heart disease and regulate blood pressure. You can access that by going to www.taichi18.com/online-video-course/shibashi, scroll down to the Instruction Manual section, and click on the link for the sample instruction manual.
How to Feel the Qi Energy
For those who have ordered the home study course or watched the free Tai Chi Qigong Shibashi video, have learnt how to feel the qi energy. Some may have felt the qi after practicing qi gong for the first time. Others may need more practice before feeling the qi. Patience is the key.
Here are some tips on how you can acquire the feeling of qi energy faster: 1) Perform Qigong Shibashi twice in a row, 2) Practice qigong at room temperature 23°C (74° F) or higher; 3) Perform the qigong exercise indoors; 4) Practice qigong when there is a full moon. 5) Practice after 11 pm. 6) Perform Qigong Shibashi after a hot bath.
For those who have not practiced Tai Chi Qigong Shibashi, here is a simple exercise you can try. Sit comfortably in a relaxed position. Place your hands close to your navel. Put one hand on top of the other. The centers of the palms should be facing and in line with each other. Your hands should not touch.
Now slowly begin to move your hands in one of two ways. 1) Circle your hands with one hand moving clockwise, and the other hand moving counter-clockwise, or 2) Slowly move them towards and away from each other in a pulsing motion, as if you were clapping in slow motion being careful to ensure that your hands do not touch. Do this for two or three minutes, keeping your body and mind as relaxed as possible.
Don’t be disappointed if you do not feel anything. It usually takes a few tries for you to feel the qi. You can also follow the tips I mentioned above. Everyone has a different sensitivity towards qi. I have a student who took more than a year to feel the sensation of qi.
The feeling of qi is also different to everybody. However, the majority of people describe the qi energy that they feel between their hands as two magnets attracting or repelling each other.
How to See Qi Energy
As I mentioned previously, some people can even see qi energy with their naked eyes. To try to see qi, go to a dark room and light a candle and put it behind you. Then place your hands above some black colored objects. Relax your whole body and most importantly you mind and fingers. Then slowly, you should be able to see the qi energy coming out from your fingertips. It should look like a very dim white semi-transparent light beam. For normal people, the light beams are about one inch long. It may be longer for those who practice qigong on a regular basis.
Some gifted individuals can see qi even in daylight. Furthermore, some can even see the different colors of qi, not just the white color that we normally see.
Feeling or Seeing Qi Energy: Students Testimonials
“I am just emailing you to let you know I have been practicing your QIGONG program since Tuesday, and I am totally amazed at how powerful this simple to follow program is.
I have been practicing QIGONG now for 12 months and I have tried various forms of this ancient discipline, some I have found to be beneficial to my well being, and others just to hard and cumbersome to perform, and some very expensive as well.
The amazing thing I have found is I don’t need a lot of space to perform the movements, as I practice in a room where space is limited.
But I have to say the amount of qi I am working up in my practice overwhelms me at times. The most significant benefit I have noticed is the constant magnetic feeling between my fingers and in the palms of my hands its just oozing out of my being almost all day long. When I concentrate on my hands and slowly move my hands in a sweeping movement the chi is not only flowing there but right up my spinal cord also, it is a most wonderful feeling.
I practice for 45 minutes in the morning time @ 5am, followed by 30 mins meditation. Even my meditation is more peaceful and so relaxed, and I have been meditating for 10 years now.” From Martin Kirwan of Ireland
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